Competition entry 2023

NEW Category: Digital Art

The New Breed Art Competition invites new and emerging Free State-based artists to enter and take a step towards being discovered as a new breed of artist. Competition entries for the 2023 New Breed Art Competition opens on 11 September 2023 and closes on 17 September 2023. The complete competition rules of participation and terms and conditions can be found in the competition Entry Form.

The complete competition rules of participation and terms and conditions can be found in the competition Entry Form. The Entry Form will be downloadable and will be available in hard copy from the Oliewenhuis Art Museum and other art centres and must be submitted together with your entry works.

  • South African citizens or permanent residents in South Africa who are 18 years or older on 11 September 2023.
  • Entrants must reside in or be primarily resident in the Free State for at least six months during 2023.
  • Entrants must be new or emerging artists (art students are not excluded) who have not held a solo exhibition at a commercial gallery involving more than 20 works. This excludes exhibitions held for academic purposes.
  • Entrants who have previously won the first prize in the PH Attorneys' New Breed Art Competition will not be allowed to enter.
The complete competition rules of participation and terms and conditions can be found in the competition Entry Form.

You can enter the competition, provided you meet the competition eligibility requirements, by downloading the competition Entry Form and submitting your completed Entry Form together with up to two art works at Oliewenhuis Art Museum. Entries may only be submitted from 10:00 to 16:00 on any day between 11 and 17 September 2023 at Oliewenhuis Art Museum.

The competition will award the following prizes to entrants following evaluation by an independent panel of judges:

First prize: R50 000
Runner-up prize: R20 000
2 Merit Award prizes of R10 000 each
1 Public Choice Award prize of R10 000

New
1 Digital Art Award prize of R10 000
Interested artists should note the following important competition dates for 2023:

1. Competition launch and information session March
2. Competition opening for entries 11 Sept
3. Closing date for entries 17 Sept
4. Notification of selected artists 26 Sept – 29 Sept
5. Exhibition opening at Oliewenhuis 12 Oct
6. Website features selected artists 12 Oct
7. Public choice voting closes on website 08 Nov
8. Awards announcement at Oliewenhuis 09 Nov
9. Closing of exhibition at Oliewenhuis 19 Nov

Each entry must be accompanied by the following documentation:
  • A duly completed and signed Entry Form.
  • A maximum of two works meeting the submission requirements listed in the Entry Form.
  • A copy of the artist’s identity document or permanent residence permit.
  • Proof of place of residence in the Free State (e.g. municipal statement, account statement, lease agreement, affidavit of third party confirming residence, etc.).
  • A short biography of the artist of no more than 300 words.
  • A short synopsis of each work submitted of no more than 300 words briefly explaining the work, its conceptualisation and choice of medium used.
  • Clear assembly, installation and/or mounting instructions.
  • A high resolution profile image of the artist in JPEG format (at least 300dpi) for marketing and promotional purposes, provided on CD/DVD or USB Flash drive.
  • Optional: A digital portfolio of images of a maximum of 10 other works of the artist in high resolution JPEG format (at least 300dpi) for promotional purposes and artist profile, provided on CD/DVD or USB Flash drive.
The complete competition rules of participation and terms and conditions can be found in the competition Entry Form.
Artists selected for inclusion in the competition will be featured on the competition website where the public has the opportunity to vote for their favourite artist or work and determine which artist will receive the Public Choice Award.

The Public Choice Award category encourages general public involvement and greater exposure of artists.
The competition will be judged in two rounds:

During a first round selection a maximum of 60 works will be selected for inclusion in the competition; these works will form part of the public competition exhibition at Oliewenhuis Art Museum. An independent panel of judges will select works, with works that do not meet competition requirements or are not deemed suitable, appropriate or at an acceptable level, being eliminated. Artists not selected will be contacted to collect their works.

A final round selection will be undertaken by an independent panel of judges who will choose the winning entries. Each work will be judged on its conceptual quality, technical execution, skill, craftsmanship, cohesiveness, vision, innovative use of materials and aesthetic appeal.

The Merit Awards will also provide the judges with the opportunity to recognise and reward new and developing talent and with these awards invest in these artists.

A Public Choice Award will allow members of the public to vote for and judge their favourite artist's work on display during the competition exhibition. The Public Choice Award will be awarded to the artist receiving the most votes by members of the public.

All judging decisions are final and no reasons will be provided for any decision or correspondence entered into with any of the organisers. Phatshoane Henney Attorneys retains the final and sole discretion to disqualify any entry for any reason including due to any infringement of the terms and conditions of the competition.
Competition winners will be announced at the official competition awards function on Thursday evening, 9 November 2023 at Oliewenhuis Art Museum. Attendance of the function will be by invitation only.
Artists selected for inclusion in the competition will form part of a public competition exhibition in the Main Building at Oliewenhuis Art Museum from 12 October to 19 November 2023.
The competition seeks to identify new and emerging Free State-based artists and to provide a comprehensive platform for exposure, recognition and awareness of local artists to showcase the diversity and talent that are on offer in the province.

In addition to substantial prize money the competition will provide national marketing exposure to and awareness of selected and winning artists.

Selected artists will be featured on the official Phatshoane Henney New Breed Art Competition website at www.newbreedart.co.za following the first round selection of competition works.

A Public Choice Award category will allow general public involvement and greater exposure of artists by encouraging the public to vote for their favourite artist.
Key dates
2023
Virtual competition launch and information session
March
1
Competition opening for submission of entries
11 September
2
Closing date for entries
17 September
3
Notification of selected artists
26 – 29 September
4
Collection of unselected works
29 Sept - 06 Oct
5
Exhibition opening at Oliewenhuis
12 October
6
Website opening of selected artists’ works
12 October
7
Public Choice Award nominations open on website
12 October
8
Awards announcement at Oliewenhuis
09 November
9
Closing of exhibition at Oliewenhuis
19 November
10
Collection of works
20 - 26 November
11